Plaintiff
- Name: Sandra Ford
- Filing Date: December 29, 2025
- Court: United States District Court Northern District of Illinois
- State: Illinois
- Attorney Firm: Equal Access Law Group, PLLC
Defendant
- Name: PBIGroup, Inc.
- Website: hempz.com
- Industry: Consumer Goods
- Standards Cited: WCAG 2.2
- Summary: Provides consumers access to an array of personal care products, including hemp seed oil-infused lotions, moisturizers, skincare items, bath and body products, and haircare treatments.
Case Summary
According to the complaint, Sandra Ford, a visually impaired individual, is suing PBIGroup, Inc. for failing to make its website, https://hempz.com, accessible to blind and visually impaired users. Ford alleges that the website contains significant access barriers that prevent her and others from independently navigating and completing transactions. The complaint cites violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and seeks a permanent injunction to require the defendant to make the website accessible, as well as compensatory damages for the discrimination faced by Ford and other class members.
Causes of Action
- Violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Declaratory Relief
Key Allegations
- Website is inaccessible to visually impaired individuals
- Failure to provide necessary accommodations for screen-reader users
- Denial of equal access to goods and services offered on the Website
Requested Relief
- Preliminary and permanent injunction to prohibit Defendant from violating the ADA
- Injunction requiring Defendant to make the Website compliant with the ADA
- Declaration that the Website discriminates against visually impaired individuals
- Class action certification
Proposed Class
All legally blind individuals in the United States who have attempted to access the Website and as a result have been denied access to the enjoyment of goods and services offered by the Website, during the relevant statutory period.
Jurisdiction & Venue
This Court has subject-matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 42 U.S.C. § 12182; venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b)(1) and (2).
